You just bought furniture for the living room, so how do you maintain its fresh new appearance?

To help maintain your furniture's appearance and ensure complete satisfaction with the services performed, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends hiring an IICRC-Certified Firm employing IICRC-Certified Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technicians (UFT).

To learn more about the IICRC or how to care for your upholstery, you can write to the Institute at 2715 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661.

To keep your furniture clean, its necessary to conduct routine maintenance, including periodic cleaning by a certified technician every 12 to 24 months. Furniture and fabric manufacturers recommend that consumers not wait until sever soiling occurs before cleaning because the greater the soiling, the less the likelihood of restoring the fabric's original color, appearance, and texture, and the greater adverse effect on indoor environmental quality.

Regular cleaning by a trained, certified professional can help restore your upholstery's appearance, extend its life, and keeping it looking "like new". In addition, certified professionals can offer simple suggestions to maintain a clean and healthy environment. These tips often include:

Control soil by using arm caps and rotating seat cushions frequently to prolong life and appearance of areas prone to wear and tear.

Remove dry soil by vacuuming and, depending on the fabric, brushing to remove dust and soil particles.

Increased cleaning may be required when fabric is subjected to heavy use, or when it is located in homes occupied with persons with allergies or respiratory sensitivity.